Viewpoints

To the Editor:

This week Senator Michael Breitbach has surpassed his House constituents in trying to take power away from local people and agencies by championing SF548. March 4, hundreds of citizens traveled to Des Moines to speak against a similar house bill, HF542. The size of the crowd made the front page news in The Gazette. The proposal was for the State to take all control over land for public land development… parks, trails, recreation areas, basically taking power away from local people and giving it to the State, only to the State.

Senator Breitbach thinks regular people do not know what is best for them. I work at an area campground and hear every day about what is best. The bike trails, the trout fishing, the parks, the river. Kids and campers at the campground help pick up sticks when we get a big wind. People donate trees and plants and benches so others can enjoy the green and being out in beautiful northeast Iowa.

Anger Can Be a Good Thing?
    
Our gospel passage for our Sunday Mass recently was this teaching of Jesus:  “Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you.” I don’t think there is a more challenging instruction in the Scriptures than that!

Today we are often encouraged to protect ourselves by by separating ourselves from those others who hold opposing opinions and worldviews from our own. Today our anger and lack of trust in people and institutions can be stoked by a variety of sources. In way too many cases, anger has led to violence.

Editor’s Note: The following letter was written to President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence.

To the Editor:

This is probably the most important letter I have ever attempted to write and it may become too long but I consider all that is mentioned related to my reason for writing this letter. My name is Osmund (Ozzy) Quandahl, born in Quandahl, IA in 1926, and at this age I better not put off writing this letter.

To the Editor:

It slowly takes over a person’s life to the point where they forgot how it all began. It is insidious, creeping up and building up over time. Little, unnoticeable things change at first, leading to bigger changes. Then, as if out of the blue, that famous black cloud is overhead.

Depression is when everything feels too hard. When you feel so low that things you previously enjoyed no longer hold the same joy. You wonder how you ever enjoyed anything at all. You wonder what other people have that you can’t get hold of. You find it harder and harder to get out of bed in the morning.

You drag yourself through each day. You find it difficult to go to bed at night. The low is so low that it seems to take over, sometimes overwhelming you in a way that you could not have imagined beforehand.

To the Editor:

It is the duty of our federal, state and local governments to make safe, informed decisions. It is our responsibility in commercial, professional and private life to do likewise. For 23 years, this has not been the case.

February 8, 1996, the wireless industry bought our government and the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was passed. Politicians receive large amounts of money and the FCC receives revenue from this industry. Even though 100% fiber optics is safe and thousands of times faster, money was prioritized.

August 6, 1996, our government nullified the National Environmental Policy Act for the wireless industry.

When this nation surrendered to deceptive wireless technology, the people, next generations and the environment are of no concern. Denying truth does not erase truth. The cost increases by way of consequences until truth is accepted and decisions made accordingly.

To the Editor:

It is with profound sadness that the National Council of Catholic Women contemplates the passage of the late term abortion legislation in New York now being promoted in other states of our country. The act of killing a child at any stage of life is unconscionable, but killing a baby about to be born into the world that could even be in the birth canal or partially delivered can be considered as nothing more than a barbaric act unworthy of this great nation; a nation that noted the right to life in our Declaration of Independence. We pray that our legislators will understand the sacredness and extraordinary gift of life and that abortion is not a political issue but that there is a moral imperative to preserve and cherish life at all stages.

To the Editor:

There is a bill in the Iowa House, HSB110, that would alter how our judges are selected in Iowa by allowing the governor to make appointments to the State Judicial Commission, without approval of the Senate, and will ultimately make this a partisan-based system going forward.

Currently, Iowa justices and judges are selected using a merit-based system. A commission composed of nonpartisan Iowans reviews the credentials of individual lawyers who are nominated for judicial office. This commission then nominates the individuals whom it finds best qualified and sends their names to the governor for final selection.

Governor Kim Reynolds has only appointed Republicans to the state and district commissions. Of the 68 appointments made by the Governor, 65 are held by Republicans and three are held by no parties.

To the Editor:

I am writing to express appreciation to Waukon residents for sharing the true meaning of Christmas with children in need this past holiday season.

Because of the generosity of donors in Waukon and across the United States, Operation Christmas Child, a project of Samaritan’s Purse, collected more than 8.8 million shoeboxes in 2018. Combined with those collected from partnering countries in 2018, the ministry is now sending more than 10.6 million shoebox gifts to children suffering from poverty, natural disasters, war, disease and famine.

These simple gifts bring smiles to the faces of children around the world. Packed with fun toys, school supplies and hygiene items, these gifts bring joy and are a tangible expression of God’s love. Since 1993, Operation Christmas Child has collected and delivered more than 157 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 160 countries and territories.

To the Editor:

As we start the new year and look ahead to what we as public servants can achieve, there are a number of important issues facing Iowa’s agricultural industry where our roles on the state and federal levels intersect. Recently, one issue has been defending and advocating on behalf of biofuels workers and the farmers who grow the made-in-America fuel.

Working together, along with U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst and Gov. Kim Reynolds, we not only fended off moneyed oil interests opposed to competition from America’s farmers, but finally delivered on President Donald Trump’s promise to allow for year-round sales of higher blends of ethanol, known as E15.

Our work for Iowa’s farmers will continue in 2019. The top issue, without a doubt, is international trade. Opening new markets and breaking down barriers to allow Iowa’s farmers to export the best agricultural products in the world to places across the globe is something we’ll be working for every day.

To the Editor:

Ten states now regulate marijuana like alcohol.

In November, Michigan voters approved legal sales of marijuana to adults. The newly elected Governors of both Minnesota and Illinois want to do the same.

Iowa should follow their lead. Marijuana prohibition hasn’t worked and has hurt taxpayers and everyday Iowans.

Despite the best efforts of the criminal justice system to protect us from this overly exaggerated threat and the hundreds of millions spent on police, courts, jails and prisons, Iowans are not safer or healthier.

By legalizing and regulating the sale of marijuana to Iowa adults, we can refocus our criminal justice system on serious crime and expand substance abuse treatment programs.

We can also capture our state’s share of the businesses, jobs, revenue and commerce created by regulating marijuana like alcohol.